AI job loss fears overstated as most welcome robots

Businesses’ widescale adoption of artificial intelligence has sparked fears that the machines could soon render many jobs redundant, however, it seems that most employees are following comedian Catherine Tate’s catchphrase "am I bovvered?"

So says a new study by omnichannel customer experience specialist Genesys, which quizzed 1,103 employers and 4,207 employees in the UK, the US, Germany, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Across all markets, it found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of employers expect their companies to be using AI or advanced automation by 2022 to support efficiency in operations, staffing, budgeting or performance, although only 25% are using it now. However, only 17% of employees expressed concern that AI could be used unethically by their companies.

When it comes to the UK market, employers and employees seem to trust each other’s ethics, with strong support among both parties for the regulation of AI.

However, nearly three-fifths (59%) of UK employees do not believe that AI or bots will take their jobs within the next ten years. Even so, 64% of employees believe there should be a requirement that companies maintain a minimum percentage of human employees versus AI-powered robots and machinery; 61% of employers agree.

The survey underscores that millennials (ages 18-38) are the age group most comfortable with technology, yet they also have the strongest opinions that guard rails are needed.

Genesys vice-president of UK and Ireland Steve Leeson said: "Our research reveals both parties welcome the increasingly important role AI-enabled technologies will play in the workplace and hold a surprisingly consistent view toward the ethical implications of this intelligent technology.

"We advise companies to develop and document their policies on AI sooner rather than later – making employees a part of the process to quell any apprehension and promote an environment of trust and transparency."

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